Electric igniter for gas-engines.



No. 694,250. Patented Feb. 25, 1902.

F. BURGER.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FDR GAS ENGINES.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1900.)

2 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 694,250. Patented Feb. 25, I902.

F. BURGER. Y

ELECTRIC lGNlTER-FOR GAS ENGINES.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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FRANZ BURGER, OF FORT NAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO HENRY M. IVILLIAMS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,250, dated February 25, 1902.

Application filed November 17, 1900. Serial No. 36.897. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ BURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort l/Vayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improve-. ments in Electric Igniters for'Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical igniters for gas-engines} and it consists, primarily, of

a novel means for operating such devices by utilizing the pressure exerted by the com.- pressed charge within an engine-cylinder to actuate one of the electrodes of the igniter, whereby an electric circuit is broken and a r 5 spark produced.

Both of my electrodes are constructed movable; and myinvention further consists in the mechanism hereinafter to be more fully described, whereby in the operation of my device one of the electrodes follows the movement of the other and remains in contact with it for a predetermined distance when contact between them is about to be broken. The production of the spark is therefore delayed for an instant, which feature is particularly useful in slow-running engines. Other features of invention will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side View, partly in section, of the igniter and part of the cylinder and piston of a gas-engine, while Fig. 2 is a like view with the parts in difierent relative positions from those shown in Fig. 1.

- In the drawings, A represents part of the cylinder of a gas-engine with its explosionchamber B and piston O. Fitting in the head 2 of the en gine-cylinder and suitably secured to it, as by bolts 3 and I and nuts 5 and 6, is

0 an attachment 1, carrying the electrodes 7 and 8, slidabl y arranged therein; but this attachment may be fixed in any convenient place on the cylinder, so that the electrodes project into the combustion-chamber.

The electrode 7 is made with two difierent diameters and a shoulder 9 and slides within a sleeve 10, correspondingly bored to fit its different diameters, and which has a head 13 and screw-threaded end 14, upon which is screwed a nut 15. This sleeve is insulated from attachment 1 by insulation in which the sleeve is securely held by nut 15.

To the smaller projecting end of electrode 7 is fastened a clamp 11, having a bindingscrew 12 for one terminal of an electric circuit, including the electrodes 7 and S and a source of electric energy D. The clamp 11 is so placed that it allows a longitudinal play of the electrode and acts as a stop by abutting against the outer end of sleeve 10. The other end of this electrode carries a contact-tip 16 and extends within the combustion-chamber B.

Electrode 8 slides in attachment 1 through an aperture and has a head 18 extending into the combustion-chamber. From this head 18 projects an arm 19, having a contact-tip 20, adapted to make contact with contact-tip 16, while a pin 26, screwed into attachment 1 and passing through an arm 27 on head 18, 7o prevents the electrode from twisting.

Attached to a reduced portion of electrode 8 by a nut 21 and working within a cylindrical boring Cb in attachment 1 is an enlargement which forms a piston 0, while the cylindrical boring may be said to form a secondary cylinder, receiving pressure from the engine-cylinder. The cross-sectional area of piston c is larger than that of head 18 for reasons which will hereinafter appear.

A cap-plate 22, screwed to attachment 1 by a bolt 23, forms a head for the secondary cylindera, while attached to but insulated from a projection 24 on this cap is a spring 25 in the form of a blade, one end of which presses upon the outer end of electrodes 7 and tends to force it into the combustion-chamber B as far as will be allowed by clamp 11.

Ports 28 and 29 in attachment 1 connect from behind and in front of piston C with a pipe 30 and the atmosphere, respectively, the pipe 30 in turn connecting with a port 31 in the side of the engine-cylinder near the combustion end, whilea channel 32 in the piston O is adapted to register with port 31 when the piston has completed its compressing stroke.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Let the piston C be presumed to have completed its suction or charging stroke, in which an explosive mixture has been drawn into 10:

the engine-cylinder, and suppose the piston is about to return, compressing the charge. Contact-tips 16 and 20 will be out of contact with each other and port 31 in the side of the engine-cylinder will be left uncovered by the piston. As the piston advances and the pressure within the cylinder increases this pressure is transmitted through port 31, pipe 30, and port 28 to'the rear of piston c in secondary cylinder at, whereby electrode 8 is held in its forward position, (shown in Fig. 2,) maintaining the electric circuit broken and saving current, owing to the larger cross-sectional area of piston C over head 18. When in the advance of piston C it covers port 31, the contin uing increase of pressure on head 18 of electrode 8 will overcome the pressure behind piston c and will close contacts 16 and 20, which state of aifairs is shown in Fig. 1. Upon the completion of compression channel 3:2 will register with port 31, as shown in Fig. 2, and the increased pressure admitted behind piston 0 will cause contact-tips l6 and 20 to become separated by the movement of electrode 8, so that a spark will be produced and the charge ignited. It will also be seen that when contact at 16 and 20 between the electrodes is about to be broken electrode 7 will be forced inward by its spring 25, so that it will follow in contact with electrode 8 for a predetermined distance before the break occurs.

Without limiting myself to the precise details of construction, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an explosive-engine, the combination with the working cylinder, of electrodes for igniting the charge, and means for applying the pressure developed in the working cylinder alternately to opposite ends of one of the electrodes, whereby said electrode is positively operatedin both directions to open and close contact between it and the other electrode, substantially as described.

2. In an explosive-engine, the combination with the working cylinder, of a fixed and a movable electrode, and means for applying the pressure developed in the working cylinder alternately to opposite ends of the movable electrode, whereby said electrode is positively operated in both directions to open and close contact between it and the fixed electrode, substantially as described.

3. In an explosion-engine, the combination with a compression-cylinder, of electrodes for igniting the charge, a secondary cylinder for one of the electrodes,and connections between said secondary cylinder and the compressioncylinder, whereby the said electrode is operated by the compressed charge, substantially as described.

4. In an explosion-engine, the combination with a compression-cylinder and piston, of electrodes for igniting the charge, a secondary cylinder for one of the electrodes and connections between said secondary cylinder and the compression-cylinder controlled by the movement of the piston, substantially as described.

5. In an ex plosion-engine, the combination with a compression-cylinder and piston, of electrodes for igniting the charge, a connecting-passage between one of the electrodes and the compression-cylinder, and a channel in said piston controlling said connecting-passage, substantially as described.

6. In an explosion-engine, the combination with a compression-cylinder and piston of electrodes extending into the cylinder, one of the electrodes having a head and piston and connections between the electrode-piston and compression-cylinder whereby the electrode is moved by variations in pressure of the gases in the compression-cylinder, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a compression-cylinder, piston and secondary cylinder of a gasengine, of electrodes extending within the compression-cylinder, one of said electrodes carrying a piston working in said secondary cylinder, means for closing contact between the electrodes, and means for admitting pressure from the compression-cylinder to the secondary cylinder, whereby contact between the electrodes is broken and a spark produced, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the compressioncylinder, piston and secondary cylinder of a gas-engine, of two movable electrodes extending within the compression-cylinder, one of said electrodes being sprin g-controlled, whereby it follows for a predetermined distance in contact with the other and the second of said electrodes having a piston working in said secondary cylinder, means for closing contact between the electrodes, and means for admitting pressure from the compression-cylinder to the secondary cylinder whereby contact between the electrodes is broken and a spark produced, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the compressioncylinder, piston and secondary cylinder of a gas-engine, of an attachment carrying electrodes sliding within the same and extending within the compression-cylinder, one of said electrodes being spring controlled and the other carrying a piston working in said secondary cylinder, ports in the compressioncylinder and secondary cylinder connected to admit pressure to the secondary cylinder and a channel in the piston adapted to register with the port in the compression-cylinder at the end of the compressing stroke of the engine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANZ BURGER.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. CRANE, FRED W. BURGER. 

